EP0977863A1 - Enzymes impliquees dans la biosynthese de l'amidon - Google Patents

Enzymes impliquees dans la biosynthese de l'amidon

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Publication number
EP0977863A1
EP0977863A1 EP98923337A EP98923337A EP0977863A1 EP 0977863 A1 EP0977863 A1 EP 0977863A1 EP 98923337 A EP98923337 A EP 98923337A EP 98923337 A EP98923337 A EP 98923337A EP 0977863 A1 EP0977863 A1 EP 0977863A1
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ala
arg
ser
val
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Jonathan Edward Lightner
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EIDP Inc
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EI Du Pont de Nemours and Co
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    • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
    • C12—BIOCHEMISTRY; BEER; SPIRITS; WINE; VINEGAR; MICROBIOLOGY; ENZYMOLOGY; MUTATION OR GENETIC ENGINEERING
    • C12N—MICROORGANISMS OR ENZYMES; COMPOSITIONS THEREOF; PROPAGATING, PRESERVING, OR MAINTAINING MICROORGANISMS; MUTATION OR GENETIC ENGINEERING; CULTURE MEDIA
    • C12N9/00—Enzymes; Proenzymes; Compositions thereof; Processes for preparing, activating, inhibiting, separating or purifying enzymes
    • C12N9/10—Transferases (2.)
    • C12N9/1048—Glycosyltransferases (2.4)
    • C12N9/1051—Hexosyltransferases (2.4.1)
    • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
    • C07—ORGANIC CHEMISTRY
    • C07K—PEPTIDES
    • C07K14/00—Peptides having more than 20 amino acids; Gastrins; Somatostatins; Melanotropins; Derivatives thereof
    • C07K14/415—Peptides having more than 20 amino acids; Gastrins; Somatostatins; Melanotropins; Derivatives thereof from plants
    • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
    • C12—BIOCHEMISTRY; BEER; SPIRITS; WINE; VINEGAR; MICROBIOLOGY; ENZYMOLOGY; MUTATION OR GENETIC ENGINEERING
    • C12N—MICROORGANISMS OR ENZYMES; COMPOSITIONS THEREOF; PROPAGATING, PRESERVING, OR MAINTAINING MICROORGANISMS; MUTATION OR GENETIC ENGINEERING; CULTURE MEDIA
    • C12N15/00—Mutation or genetic engineering; DNA or RNA concerning genetic engineering, vectors, e.g. plasmids, or their isolation, preparation or purification; Use of hosts therefor
    • C12N15/09—Recombinant DNA-technology
    • C12N15/63—Introduction of foreign genetic material using vectors; Vectors; Use of hosts therefor; Regulation of expression
    • C12N15/79—Vectors or expression systems specially adapted for eukaryotic hosts
    • C12N15/82—Vectors or expression systems specially adapted for eukaryotic hosts for plant cells, e.g. plant artificial chromosomes (PACs)
    • C12N15/8241—Phenotypically and genetically modified plants via recombinant DNA technology
    • C12N15/8242—Phenotypically and genetically modified plants via recombinant DNA technology with non-agronomic quality (output) traits, e.g. for industrial processing; Value added, non-agronomic traits
    • C12N15/8243—Phenotypically and genetically modified plants via recombinant DNA technology with non-agronomic quality (output) traits, e.g. for industrial processing; Value added, non-agronomic traits involving biosynthetic or metabolic pathways, i.e. metabolic engineering, e.g. nicotine, caffeine
    • C12N15/8245—Phenotypically and genetically modified plants via recombinant DNA technology with non-agronomic quality (output) traits, e.g. for industrial processing; Value added, non-agronomic traits involving biosynthetic or metabolic pathways, i.e. metabolic engineering, e.g. nicotine, caffeine involving modified carbohydrate or sugar alcohol metabolism, e.g. starch biosynthesis
    • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
    • C12—BIOCHEMISTRY; BEER; SPIRITS; WINE; VINEGAR; MICROBIOLOGY; ENZYMOLOGY; MUTATION OR GENETIC ENGINEERING
    • C12N—MICROORGANISMS OR ENZYMES; COMPOSITIONS THEREOF; PROPAGATING, PRESERVING, OR MAINTAINING MICROORGANISMS; MUTATION OR GENETIC ENGINEERING; CULTURE MEDIA
    • C12N15/00—Mutation or genetic engineering; DNA or RNA concerning genetic engineering, vectors, e.g. plasmids, or their isolation, preparation or purification; Use of hosts therefor
    • C12N15/09—Recombinant DNA-technology
    • C12N15/63—Introduction of foreign genetic material using vectors; Vectors; Use of hosts therefor; Regulation of expression
    • C12N15/79—Vectors or expression systems specially adapted for eukaryotic hosts
    • C12N15/82—Vectors or expression systems specially adapted for eukaryotic hosts for plant cells, e.g. plant artificial chromosomes (PACs)
    • C12N15/8241—Phenotypically and genetically modified plants via recombinant DNA technology
    • C12N15/8261—Phenotypically and genetically modified plants via recombinant DNA technology with agronomic (input) traits, e.g. crop yield
    • C12N15/8271—Phenotypically and genetically modified plants via recombinant DNA technology with agronomic (input) traits, e.g. crop yield for stress resistance, e.g. heavy metal resistance
    • C12N15/8273—Phenotypically and genetically modified plants via recombinant DNA technology with agronomic (input) traits, e.g. crop yield for stress resistance, e.g. heavy metal resistance for drought, cold, salt resistance

Definitions

  • This invention is in the field of plant molecular biology. More specifically, this invention pertains to nucleic acid fragments encoding enzymes involved in starch biosynthesis in plants and seeds.
  • BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Starch is an important component of food, feed, and industrial products. Broadly speaking, it consists of two types of glucan polymers: relatively long chained polymers with few branches known as amylose, and shorter chained but highly branched molecules called amylopectin. Its biosynthesis depends on the complex interaction of multiple enzymes (Smith, A. et al., (1995) Plant Physiol. 107:673-677; Preiss, J., (1988) Biochemistry of Plants _ ..181-253).
  • ADP-glucose pyrophosphorylase which catalyzes the formation of ADP-glucose
  • starch synthases which use ADP glucose as a substrate for polymer formation using ⁇ -1-4 linkages
  • starch branching enzymes which modify the polymer by transferring segments of polymer to other parts of the polymer using ⁇ -1-6 linkages, creating branched structures.
  • debranching and disproportionating enzymes not only participate in starch degradation, but also in modification of starch structure during its biosynthesis. Different models for this action have been proposed, but all share the concept that such activities, or lack thereof, change the structure of the starch produced.
  • starch structure such as the relative amounts of amylose and amylopectin or the degree and length of branching of amylopectin, alter its function in cooking and industrial processes.
  • starch derived from different naturally occurring mutants of corn can be shown on the one hand to differ in structure and correspondingly to differ in functional assays such as Rapid Visco analysis, which measures changes in viscosity as starch is heated and then cooled (Walker, C.E., (1988) Cereal Foods World 55:491-494).
  • Rapid Visco analysis measures changes in viscosity as starch is heated and then cooled
  • Glycogen a non-plant analogue of starch, is synthesized by the concerted actions of glycogen synthase and glycogen branching enzymes in much the same way that starch biosynthesis occurs in plants.
  • Glycogen synthesis requires a primer for the initial action of the glycogen synthase enzyme. This primer function is thought to be provided by a self- glucosylating protein called glycogenin in mammals. Inactivation of the two genes that encode this enzyme in yeast has been shown to result in the absence of glycogen. It is evident that a similar primer function may be necessary for starch biosynthesis in plants and the isolation of such a self glucosylating activity has been the subject some study (Singh, D. G.
  • WSI76 is a gene induced by short term water stress. Its expression is decreased in response to chilling (Plant Mol Biol 1994 Oct;26(l):339-352).
  • WS176 may be a rice glycogenin because its only homology to a functionally characterized protein is to glycogenin.
  • starch fine structure results from the concerted action of several starch synthases, starch branching enzymes and starch debranching enzymes, it is reasonable to suppose that manipulating the amount of substrate for these enzymes may impact on the ultimate structure of the starch granule. Further it is clear that attempts to manipulate starch fine structure through altering expression of starch biosynthetic genes may lower the overall production of starch by reducing the amount of substrate, glucan chains, available to prime synthesis. One useful approach to resolve such difficulties would be the overexpression of a primer protein, glycogenin.
  • manipulating the expression of the glycogenin primer may be used, for example, to alter the total number of granules initiated in corn endosperm. Increasing or decreasing the number of initial primers for synthesis might reasonably be expected to decrease or increase, respectively, the ultimate size of the synthesized granules. Altering granule size may usefully alter starch functionality and or starch.
  • glycogenin genes and genes encoding peptides with homology to glycogenin have been described from other organisms (Barbetti, F. et al. (1995) Diabetologia 38:295; Wilson, R. et al. (1994) Nature 368:32-28; Takahashi, R. et al. (1994) Plant Mol. Biol. 26(l):339-352), a glycogenin gene has yet to be described for corn, rice or wheat.
  • the instant invention relates to isolated nucleic acid fragments encoding corn, rice and wheat glycogenin and water stress proteins.
  • this invention relates to nucleic acid fragments that are complementary to nucleic acid fragments encoding corn, rice and wheat glycogenin and water stress proteins.
  • the instant invention relates chimeric genes encoding a com, rice and wheat glycogenin and water stress protein or nucleic acid fragments that are complementary to nucleic acid fragments encoding a com, rice and wheat glycogenin and water stress protein, operably linked to suitable regulatory sequences, wherein expression of the chimeric gene results in production of altered levels of a com, rice and wheat glycogenin or water stress protein in a transformed host cell.
  • the instant invention concerns a transformed host cell comprising in its genome a chimeric gene encoding com, rice and wheat glycogenin or water stress protein, operably linked to suitable regulatory sequences, wherein expression of the chimeric gene results in production of altered levels of com, rice and wheat glycogenin or water stress protein in the transformed host cell.
  • the transformed host cells can be of eukaryotic or prokaryotic origin, and include cells derived from higher plants and microorganisms.
  • the invention also includes transformed plants that arise from transformed host cells of higher plants, and from seeds derived from such transformed plants.
  • An additional embodiment of the instant invention concerns a method of altering the level of expression of a com, rice and wheat glycogenin or water stress protein in a transformed host cell comprising: a) transforming a host cell with the chimeric gene encoding a com, rice and wheat glycogenin or water stress protein, operably linked to suitable regulatory sequences; and b) growing the transformed host cell under conditions that are suitable for expression of the chimeric gene wherein expression of the chimeric gene results in production of altered levels of a com, rice and wheat glycogenin and water stress protein in the transformed host cell.
  • An addition embodiment of the instant invention concerns a method for obtaining a nucleic acid fragment encoding all or substantially all of an amino acid sequence encoding a plant glycogenin.
  • Figure 1 shows a comparison of the amino acid sequences of human glycogenin (U44131), a Caenorhabditis elegans glycogenin homolog (Z82052) and the instant com glycogenin enzyme (cc3.mn0001.f7).
  • Figure 2 shows a comparison of the amino acid sequences of the instant com glycogenin enzyme (cc3.mn0001.f7) and two related plant sequences: a conceptual translation of a portion of a genomic clone from Arabidopsis thaliana (1922956) with homology to glycogenin, and a rice (Oryza sativa) protein induced by water stress (D26537).
  • Figure 3 is a digitized image of a stained SDS-PAGE gel demonstrating expression of the instant com glycogenin in E. coli.
  • “Soluble” indicates that the analyzed samples were obtained from the soluble fraction of the cell extract.
  • "Pellet” indicates that the analyzed samples were obtained from the insoluble fraction of the cell extract.
  • a "+” sign indicates that the analyzed samples were extracted from E. coli transformants harboring an expression vector comprising the PCR generated EST cc3.mn0001.f7 insert.
  • Control indicates that the analyzed samples were extracted from E. coli transformants harboring an empty pET24d expression vector.
  • SEQ ID NO:l is the nucleotide sequence comprising a portion of the cDNA insert in clone cc3.mnOOO 1.f7 encoding a com glycogenin.
  • SEQ ID NO:2 is the deduced amino acid sequence of a com glycogenin derived from the nucleotide sequence of SEQ ID NO:l.
  • SEQ ID NO:3 is the amino acid sequence encoding the human glycogenin having GenBank Accession No. U44131.
  • SEQ ID NO:4 is the amino acid sequence encoding the Caenorhabditis elegans glycogenin homolog having EMBL Accession No. Z82052.
  • SEQ ID NO: 5 is the amino acid sequence encoding a conceptual translation of a portion of a genomic clone from Arabidopsis thaliana having GenBank Accession No. 1922956.
  • SEQ ID NO:6 is the amino acid sequence encoding the rice water stress-induced protein having DDJB Accession No. D26537.
  • SEQ ID NOS: 7 is a PCR primer used in the construction of a plasmid vector suitable for expression of the instant co glycogenin in E. coli.
  • SEQ ID NOS: 8 is a PCR primers used in the construction of a plasmid vector suitable for expression of the instant com glycogenin in E. coli.
  • S ⁇ Q ID NO:9 is the nucleotide sequence comprising a portion of the cDNA insert in clone crln.pk0033.gl0 encoding a com glycogenin.
  • S ⁇ Q ID NO: 10 is the deduced amino acid sequence of a com glycogenin derived from the nucleotide sequence of S ⁇ Q ID NO:9.
  • S ⁇ Q ID NO:l 1 is the nucleotide sequence of a portion of the cDNA insert in clone ctaln.pk0013.e6 encoding a com glycogenin.
  • S ⁇ Q ID NO: 12 is the deduced amino acid sequence of a com glycogenin derived from the nucleotide sequence of S ⁇ Q ID NO: 11.
  • S ⁇ Q ID NO: 13 is the nucleotide sequence comprising a portion of the cDNA insert in clone rl0n.pk0027.fl 1 encoding a rice water stress protein.
  • S ⁇ Q ID NO: 14 is the deduced amino acid sequence of a water stress protein derived from the nucleotide sequence of S ⁇ Q ID NO:13.
  • SEQ ID NO: 15 is the nucleotide sequence comprising a portion of the cDNA insert in clone rrl.pk0070.e9 encoding a rice glycogenin.
  • SEQ ID NO: 16 is the deduced amino acid sequence of a rice glycogenin derived from the nucleotide sequence of SEQ ID NO: 15.
  • SEQ ID NO: 17 is the nucleotide sequence a contig assembled from the cDNA inserts in clones wreln.pk0137.d9 and wreln.pk0107.hl0 encoding a wheat glycogenin.
  • SEQ ID NO: 18 is the deduced amino acid sequence of a glycogenin derived from the nucleotide sequence of SEQ ID NO: 17.
  • SEQ ID NO: 19 is the nucleotide sequence comprising a portion of the cDNA insert in clone wlml.pk0014.gl0 encoding a wheat glycogenin.
  • SEQ ID NO:20 is the deduced amino acid sequence of a glycogenin derived from the nucleotide sequence of SEQ ID NO: 19.
  • SEQ ID NO:21 is the nucleotide sequence comprising a portion of the cDNA insert in clone wlln.pk0035.h9 encoding a wheat glycogenin.
  • SEQ ID NO:22 is the deduced amino acid sequence of a glycogenin derived from the nucleotide sequence of SEQ ID NO:21.
  • SEQ ID NO:23 is the nucleotide sequence comprising a portion of the cDNA insert in clone wlln.pk0148.fl0 encoding a wheat glycogenin.
  • SEQ ID NO:24 is the deduced amino acid sequence of a wheat glycogenin derived from the nucleotide sequence of SEQ ID NO:23.
  • SEQ ID NO:25 is the nucleotide sequence of a portion of the cDNA insert in clone wleln.pk0056.b2 encoding a wheat water stress.
  • SEQ ID NO:26 is the deduced amino acid sequence of a water stress protein derived from the nucleotide sequence of SEQ ID NO:25.
  • the Sequence Descriptions contain the one letter code for nucleotide sequence characters and the three letter codes for amino acids as defined in conformity with the IUPAC-IYUB standards described in Nucleic Acids Research 75:3021-3030 (1985) and in the Biochemical Journal 219 (No. :345-373 (1984) which are herein incorporated by reference.
  • an "isolated nucleic acid fragment” is a polymer of RNA or DNA that is single- or double- stranded, optionally containing synthetic, non-natural or altered nucleotide bases.
  • An isolated nucleic acid fragment in the form of a polymer of DNA may be comprised of one or more segments of cDNA, genomic DNA or synthetic DNA.
  • "contig” refers to an assemblage of overlapping nucleic acid sequences to form one contiguous nucleotide sequence. For example, several DNA sequences can be compared and aligned to identify common or overlapping regions. The individual sequences can then be assembled into a single contiguous nucleotide sequence.
  • substantially similar refers to nucleic acid fragments wherein changes in one or more nucleotide bases results in substitution of one or more amino acids, but do not affect the functional properties of the protein encoded by the DNA sequence. “Substantially similar” also refers to nucleic acid fragments wherein changes in one or more nucleotide bases does not affect the ability of the nucleic acid fragment to mediate alteration of gene expression by antisense or co-suppression technology.
  • Substantially similar also refers to modifications of the nucleic acid fragments of the instant invention such as deletion or insertion of one or more nucleotide bases that do not substantially affect the functional properties of the resulting transcript vis-a-vis the ability to mediate alteration of gene expression by antisense or co-suppression technology or alteration of the functional properties of the resulting protein molecule. It is therefore understood that the invention encompasses more than the specific exemplary sequences. For example, it is well known in the art that antisense suppression and co-suppression of gene expression may be accomplished using nucleic acid fragments representing less that the entire coding region of a gene, and by nucleic acid fragments that do not share 100% identity with the gene to be suppressed.
  • alterations in a gene which result in the production of a chemically equivalent amino acid at a given site, but do not effect the functional properties of the encoded protein are well known in the art.
  • a codon for the amino acid alanine, a hydrophobic amino acid may be substituted by a codon encoding another less hydrophobic residue, such as glycine, or a more hydrophobic residue, such as valine, leucine, or isoleucine.
  • changes which result in substitution of one negatively charged residue for another such as aspartic acid for glutamic acid, or one positively charged residue for another, such as lysine for arginine, can also be expected to produce a functionally equivalent product.
  • substantially similar sequences encompassed by this invention are also defined by their ability to hybridize, under stringent conditions (0.1X SSC, 0.1% SDS, 65°C), with the sequences exemplified herein.
  • Preferred substantially similar nucleic acid fragments of the instant invention are those nucleic acid fragments whose DNA sequences are 80% identical to the DNA sequence of the nucleic acid fragments reported herein.
  • nucleic acid fragments are 90%) identical to the identical to the DNA sequence of the nucleic acid fragments reported herein. Most preferred are nucleic acid fragments that are 95% identical to the DNA sequence of the nucleic acid fragments reported herein.
  • a "substantial portion" of an amino acid or nucleotide sequence comprises enough of the amino acid sequence of a polypeptide or the nucleotide sequence of a gene to afford putative identification of that polypeptide or gene, either by manual evaluation of the sequence by one skilled in the art, or by computer-automated sequence comparison and identification using algorithms such as BLAST (Basic Local Alignment Search Tool; Altschul, S. F., et al., (1993) J. Mol. Biol.
  • gene specific oligonucleotide probes comprising 20-30 contiguous nucleotides may be used in sequence-dependent methods of gene identification (e.g., Southern hybridization) and isolation (e.g., in situ hybridization of bacterial colonies or bacteriophage plaques).
  • oligonucleotides of 12-15 bases may be used as amplification primers in PCR in order to obtain a particular nucleic acid fragment comprising the primers.
  • a "substantial portion" of a nucleotide sequence comprises enough of the sequence to afford specific identification and/or isolation of a nucleic acid fragment comprising the sequence.
  • the instant specification teaches partial or complete amino acid and nucleotide sequences encoding one or more particular plant proteins. The skilled artisan, having the benefit of the sequences as reported herein, may now use all or a substantial portion of the disclosed sequences for purposes known to those skilled in this art. Accordingly, the instant invention comprises the complete sequences as reported in the accompanying Sequence Listing, as well as substantial portions of those sequences as defined above.
  • Codon degeneracy refers to divergence in the genetic code permitting variation of the nucleotide sequence without effecting the amino acid sequence of an encoded polypeptide. Accordingly, the instant invention relates to any nucleic acid fragment that encodes all or a substantial portion of the amino acid sequence encoding the com, rice and wheat glycogenin and water stress proteins as set forth in SEQ ID NOs:2, 10, 12, 14, 16, 18, 20, 22, 24 and 26.
  • the skilled artisan is well aware of the "codon-bias" exhibited by a specific host cell in usage of nucleotide codons to specify a given amino acid. Therefore, when synthesizing a gene for improved expression in a host cell, it is desirable to design the gene such that its frequency of codon usage approaches the frequency of preferred codon usage of the host cell.
  • “Synthetic genes” can be assembled from oligonucleotide building blocks that are chemically synthesized using procedures known to those skilled in the art. These building blocks are ligated and annealed to form gene segments which are then enzymatically assembled to construct the entire gene. "Chemically synthesized”, as related to a sequence of DNA, means that the component nucleotides were assembled in vitro. Manual chemical synthesis of DNA may be accomplished using well established procedures, or automated chemical synthesis can be performed using one of a number of commercially available machines. Accordingly, the genes can be tailored for optimal gene expression based on optimization of nucleotide sequence to reflect the codon bias of the host cell.
  • Gene refers to a nucleic acid fragment that expresses a specific protein, including regulatory sequences preceding (5* non-coding sequences) and following (3' non-coding sequences) the coding sequence.
  • Native gene refers to a gene as found in nature with its own regulatory sequences.
  • Chimeric gene refers any gene that is not a native gene, comprising regulatory and coding sequences that are not found together in nature.
  • a chimeric gene may comprise regulatory sequences and coding sequences that are derived from different sources, or regulatory sequences and coding sequences derived from the same source, but arranged in a manner different than that found in nature.
  • Endogenous gene refers to a native gene in its natural location in the genome of an organism.
  • a “foreign” gene refers to a gene not normally found in the host organism, but that is introduced into the host organism by gene transfer.
  • Foreign genes can comprise native genes inserted into a non-native organism, or chimeric genes.
  • a “transgene” is a gene that has been introduced into the genome by a transformation procedure.
  • Coding sequence refers to a DNA sequence that codes for a specific amino acid sequence.
  • Regulatory sequences refer to nucleotide sequences located upstream (5' non- coding sequences), within, or downstream (3' non-coding sequences) of a coding sequence, and which influence the transcription, RNA processing or stability, or translation of the associated coding sequence. Regulatory sequences may include promoters, translation leader sequences, introns, and polyadenylation recognition sequences.
  • Promoter refers to a DNA sequence capable of controlling the expression of a coding sequence or functional RNA.
  • a coding sequence is located 3' to a promoter sequence.
  • the promoter sequence consists of proximal and more distal upstream elements, the latter elements often referred to as enhancers.
  • an “enhancer” is a DNA sequence which can stimulate promoter activity and may be an innate element of the promoter or a heterologous element inserted to enhance the level or tissue-specificity of a promoter. Promoters may be derived in their entirety from a native gene, or be composed of different elements derived from different promoters found in nature, or even comprise synthetic DNA segments.
  • promoters may direct the expression of a gene in different tissues or cell types, or at different stages of development, or in response to different environmental conditions. Promoters which cause a gene to be expressed in most cell types at most times are commonly referred to as "constitutive promoters". New promoters of various types useful in plant cells are constantly being discovered; numerous examples may be found in the compilation by Okamuro and Goldberg, (1989) Biochemistry of Plants 75:1-82. It is further recognized that since in most cases the exact boundaries of regulatory sequences have not been completely defined, DNA fragments of different lengths may have identical promoter activity.
  • translation leader sequence refers to a DNA sequence located between the promoter sequence of a gene and the coding sequence.
  • the translation leader sequence is present in the fully processed mRNA upstream of the translation start sequence.
  • the translation leader sequence may affect processing of the primary transcript to mRNA, mRNA stability or translation efficiency. Examples of translation leader sequences have been described (Turner, R. and Foster, G.D. (1995) Molecular Biotechnology 3:225).
  • the "3' non-coding sequences” refer to DNA sequences located downstream of a coding sequence and include polyadenylation recognition sequences and other sequences encoding regulatory signals capable of affecting mRNA processing or gene expression.
  • the polyadenylation signal is usually characterized by affecting the addition of polyadenylic acid tracts to the 3' end of the mRNA precursor.
  • the use of different 3' non-coding sequences is exemplified by Ingelbrecht et al., (1989) Plant Cell 7:671-680.
  • RNA transcript refers to the product resulting from RNA polymerase-catalyzed transcription of a DNA sequence. When the RNA transcript is a perfect complementary copy of the DNA sequence, it is referred to as the primary transcript or it may be a RNA sequence derived from posttranscriptional processing of the primary transcript and is referred to as the mature RNA.
  • Messenger RNA (mRNA) refers to the RNA that is without introns and that can be translated into protein by the cell.
  • cDNA refers to a double-stranded DNA that is complementary to and derived from mRNA.
  • Sense RNA transcript that includes the mRNA and so can be translated into protein by the cell.
  • Antisense RNA refers to a RNA transcript that is complementary to all or part of a target primary transcript or mRNA and that blocks the expression of a target gene (U.S. Pat. No. 5,107,065).
  • the complementarity of an antisense RNA may be with any part of the specific gene transcript, i.e., at the 5' non-coding sequence, 3' non-coding sequence, introns, or the coding sequence.
  • “Functional RNA” refers to antisense RNA, ribozyme RNA, or other RNA that is not translated yet has an effect on cellular processes.
  • operably linked refers to the association of nucleic acid sequences on a single nucleic acid fragment so that the function of one is affected by the other.
  • a promoter is operably linked with a coding sequence when it is capable of affecting the expression of that coding sequence (i.e., that the coding sequence is under the transcriptional control of the promoter).
  • Coding sequences can be operably linked to regulatory sequences in sense or antisense orientation.
  • expression refers to the transcription and stable accumulation of sense (mRNA) or antisense RNA derived from the nucleic acid fragment of the invention. Expression may also refer to translation of mRNA into a polypeptide.
  • Antisense inhibition refers to the production of antisense RNA transcripts capable of suppressing the expression of the target protein.
  • Overexpression refers to the production of a gene product in transgenic organisms that exceeds levels of production in normal or non-transformed organisms.
  • Co-suppression refers to the production of sense RNA transcripts capable of suppressing the expression of identical or substantially similar foreign or endogenous genes (U.S. Pat. No. 5,231,020).
  • tered levels refers to the production of gene product(s) in transgenic organisms in amounts or proportions that differ from that of normal or non-transformed organisms.
  • “Mature” protein refers to a post-translationally processed polypeptide; i.e., one from which any pre- or propeptides present in the primary translation product have been removed.
  • "Precursor” protein refers to the primary product of translation of mRNA; i.e., with pre- and propeptides still present. Pre- and propetides may be but are not limited to intracellular localization signals.
  • chloroplast transit peptide is an amino acid sequence which is translated in conjunction with a protein and directs the protein to the chloroplast or other plastid types present in the cell in which the protein is made.
  • Chloroplast transit sequence refers to a nucleotide sequence that encodes a chloroplast transit peptide.
  • a “signal peptide” is an amino acid sequence which is translated in conjunction with a protein and directs the protein to the secretory system (Chrispeels, J.J., (1991) MH. 7?ev. Plant Phys. Plant Mol. Biol. 42:21-53).
  • a vacuolar targeting signal ⁇ supra can further be added, or if to the endoplasmic reticulum, an endoplasmic reticulum retention signal ⁇ supra) may be added. If the protein is to be directed to the nucleus, any signal peptide present should be removed and instead a nuclear localization signal included (Raikhel, N. (1992) Plant Phys.l 00: 1627- 1632).
  • Transformation refers to the transfer of a nucleic acid fragment into the genome of a host organism, resulting in genetically stable inheritance. Host organisms containing the transformed nucleic acid fragments are referred to as "transgenic" organisms. Examples of methods of plant transformation include Agrobacterium-mediated transformation (De Blaere et al. (1987) Meth. Enzymol. 143:271) and particle-accelerated or “gene gun” transformation technology (Klein et al. (1987) N ⁇ twre (London) 527:70-73; U.S. Pat. No. 4,945,050).
  • This invention relates to com, rice and wheat cDNAs with homology to glycogenin from mammals and other organisms and rice and wheat cDNAs with homology to water stress proteins from rice. Glycogenin and water stress protein genes from other plants can now be identified by comparison of random cDNA sequences to the com, rice and wheat glycogenin and water stress protein sequences provided herein.
  • the nucleic acid fragments of the instant invention may be used to isolate cDNAs and genes encoding homologous glycogenins and water stress proteins from the same or other plant species. Isolation of homologous genes using sequence-dependent protocols is well known in the art. Examples of sequence-dependent protocols include, but are not limited to, methods of nucleic acid hybridization, and methods of DNA and RNA amplification as exemplified by various uses of nucleic acid amplification technologies (e.g., polymerase chain reaction, ligase chain reaction).
  • glycogenin or water stress genes could be isolated directly by using all or a portion of the instant glycogenin or water stress genes as a DNA hybridization probes to screen libraries from any desired plant employing methodology well known to those skilled in the art.
  • Specific oligonucleotide probes based upon the instant glycogenin or water stress sequences can be designed and synthesized by methods known in the art (Maniatis).
  • the entire sequence can be used directly to synthesize DNA probes by methods known to the skilled artisan such as random primers DNA labeling, nick translation, or end-labeling techniques, or RNA probes using available in vitro transcription systems.
  • primers can be designed and used to amplify a part of or full-length of the instant sequence.
  • the resulting amplification products can be labeled directly during amplification reactions or labeled after amplification reactions, and used as probes to isolate full length cDNA or genomic fragments under conditions of appropriate stringency.
  • two short segments of the instant nucleic acid fragments may be used in polymerase chain reaction protocols to amplify longer nucleic acid fragments encoding homologous glycogenin or water stress protein genes from DNA or RNA.
  • the polymerase chain reaction may also be performed on a library of cloned nucleic acid fragments wherein the sequence of one primer is derived from the instant nucleic acid fragment, and the sequence of the other primer takes advantage of the presence of the polyadenylic acid tracts to the 3' end of the mRNA precursor encoding plant glycogenin.
  • the second primer sequence may be based upon sequences derived from the cloning vector.
  • the skilled artisan can follow the RACE protocol (Frohman et al., (1988) PNAS USA ⁇ 5:8998) to generate cDNAs by using PCR to amplify copies of the region between a single point in the transcript and the 3' or 5' end. Primers oriented in the 3' and 5' directions can be designed from the instant sequences. Using commercially available 3' RACE or 5' RACE systems (BRL), specific 3' or 5' cDNA fragments can be isolated (Ohara et al., (1989) PNAS USA 86:5673; Loh et al., (1989) Science 243:217). Products generated by the 3' and 5' RACE procedures can be combined to generate full-length cDNAs (Frohman, M.A. and Martin, G.R., (1989) Techniques 7:165).
  • RACE protocol Frohman et al., (1988) PNAS USA ⁇ 5:8998
  • Synthetic peptides representing portions of the instant amino acid sequences may be synthesized. These peptides can be used to immunize animals to produce polyclonal or monoclonal antibodies with specificity for peptides or proteins comprising the amino acid sequences. These antibodies can be then be used to screen cDNA expression libraries to isolate full-length cDNA clones of interest (Lemer, R.A. (1984) Adv. Immunol. 36:1; Maniatis).
  • the nucleic acid fragments of the instant invention may be used to create transgenic plants in which an instant glycogenin or water stress protein is present at higher or lower levels than normal or in cell types or developmental stages in which it is not normally found. This may have the effect of altering starch structure in those cells.
  • Overexpression of a com, rice and wheat glycogenin and water stress protein may be accomplished by first constructing a chimeric gene in which a com, rice and wheat glycogenin or water stress protein coding region is operably linked to a promoter capable of directing expression of a gene in the desired tissues at the desired stage of development.
  • the chimeric gene may comprise a promoter sequence and translation leader sequence derived from the same gene. 3' Non-coding sequences encoding transcription termination signals must also be provided.
  • the instant chimeric genes may also comprise one or more introns in order to facilitate gene expression.
  • a plasmid vector comprising the instant chimeric gene is then constructed.
  • the choice of plasmid vector is dependent upon the method that will be used to transform host plants.
  • the skilled artisan is well aware of the genetic elements that must be present on the plasmid vector in order to successfully transform, select and propagate host cells containing the chimeric gene.
  • the skilled artisan will also recognize that different independent transformation events will result in different levels and patterns of expression (Jones et al., (1985) EMBO J. 4:2411-2418; De Almeida et al., (1989) Mol. Gen. Genetics 275:78-86), and thus that multiple events must be screened in order to obtain lines displaying the desired expression level and pattern.
  • Such screening may be accomplished by Southern analysis of DNA, Northern analysis of mRNA expression, Western analysis of protein expression, or phenotypic analysis.
  • the chimeric gene described above may be further supplemented by altering the coding sequence to encode a glycogenin or water stress protein with appropriate intracellular targeting sequences such as transit sequences (Keegstra, K. (1989) Cell 5(5:247-253), signal sequences or sequences encoding endoplasmic reticulum localization (Chrispeels, J.J., (1991) Ann. Rev. Plant Phys. Plant Mol. Biol. 42:21-53), or nuclear localization signals (Raikhel, N.
  • a chimeric gene designed for co-suppression of glycogenin can be constructed by linking the glycogenin gene or gene fragment to a plant promoter sequences.
  • a chimeric gene designed to express antisense RNA for all or part of the glycogenin gene can be constructed by linking the glycogenin gene or gene fragment in reverse orientation to a plant promoter sequences.
  • Either the co-suppression or antisense chimeric gene could be introduced into plants via transformation wherein expression of the endogenous glycogenin gene is reduced or eliminated.
  • Com, rice and wheat glycogenin or water stress proteins produced in heterologous host cells can be used to prepare antibodies to the protein by methods well known to those skilled in the art.
  • the antibodies are useful for detecting com, rice and wheat glycogenin or water stress proteins in situ in cells or in vitro in cell extracts.
  • Preferred heterologous host cells for production of a com, rice or wheat glycogenin and water stress protein are microbial hosts.
  • Microbial expression systems and expression vectors containing regulatory sequences that direct high level expression of foreign proteins are well known to those skilled in the art.
  • chimeric genes for production of a com, rice and wheat glycogenin or water stress proteins. These chimeric genes could then be introduced into appropriate microorganisms via transformation to provide high level expression of a com, rice and wheat glycogenin and water stress proteins.
  • An example of a vector for high level expression of a com, rice and wheat glycogenin or water stress protein in a bacterial host is provided (Example 4).
  • nucleic acid fragments of the instant invention may also be used as probes for genetically and physically mapping the genes that they are a part of, and as markers for traits linked to expression of a com, rice and wheat glycogenin or water stress protein. Such information may be useful in plant breeding in order to develop lines with desired starch phenotypes.
  • the instant nucleic acid fragments may be used as restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) markers.
  • Southern blots Maniatis
  • the resulting banding patterns may then be subjected to genetic analyses using computer programs such as MapMaker (Lander et at., (1987) Genomics 7:174-181) in order to construct a genetic map.
  • MapMaker LandMaker
  • the nucleic acid fragments of the instant invention may be used to probe Southern blots containing restriction endonuclease-treated genomic DNAs of a set of individuals representing parent and progeny of a defined genetic cross.
  • Nucleic acid probes derived from the instant nucleic acid sequences may also be used for physical mapping (i.e., placement of sequences on physical maps; see Hoheisel, J. D., et al., In: Nonmammalian Genomic Analysis: A Practical Guide, Academic press 1996, pp. 319-346, and references cited therein).
  • nucleic acid probes derived from the instant nucleic acid sequences may be used in direct fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) mapping (Trask, B. J. (1991) Trends Genet. 7:149-154).
  • FISH direct fluorescence in situ hybridization
  • nucleic acid amplification-based methods of genetic and physical mapping may be carried out using the instant nucleic acid sequences. Examples include allele-specific amplification (Kazazian, H. H. (1989) J. Lab. Clin. Med. 114(2):95-96), polymorphism of PCR-amplified fragments (CAPS; Sheffield, V. C. et al. (1993) Genomics 7(5:325-332), allele-specific ligation (Landegren, U. et al. (1988) Science 247:1077-1080), nucleotide extension reactions (Sokolov, B. P. (1990) Nucleic Acid Res. 18:3671), Radiation Hybrid Mapping (Walter, M. A.
  • Loss of function mutant phenotypes may be identified for the instant cDNA clones either by targeted gene disruption protocols or by identifying specific mutants for these genes contained in a maize population carrying mutations in all possible genes (Ballinger and Benzer, (1989) Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci USA 86:9402; Koes et al., (1995) Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci USA 92:8149; Bensen et al., (1995) Plant Cell 7:75). The latter approach may be accomplished in two ways.
  • short segments of the instant nucleic acid fragments may be used in polymerase chain reaction protocols in conjunction with a mutation tag sequence primer on DNAs prepared from a population of plants in which Mutator transposons or some other mutation-causing DNA element has been introduced (see Bensen, supra).
  • the amplification of a specific DNA fragment with these primers indicates the insertion of the mutation tag element in or near the plant gene encoding the com, rice and wheat glycogenin or water stress protein.
  • the instant nucleic acid fragment may be used as a hybridization probe against PCR amplification products generated from the mutation population using the mutation tag sequence primer in conjunction with an arbitrary genomic site primer, such as that for a restriction enzyme site-anchored synthetic adaptor.
  • a plant containing a mutation in the endogenous gene encoding a com, rice and wheat glycogenin or water stress protein can be identified and obtained.
  • This mutant plant can then be used to determine or confirm the natural function of the com, rice and wheat glycogenin or water stress protein gene product.
  • EXAMPLE 1 Composition of Com. Rice and Wheat cDNA Librarys; Isolation and Sequencing of cDNA Clones
  • a cDNA library representing mRNAs from com embryogenic callus derived from com embryos obtained from Zea mays LH132 com plants (library desigantion: cc3) was prepared.
  • the cDNA library was prepared in a Uni-ZAPTM XR vector according to the manufacturer's protocol (Stratagene Cloning Systems, La Jolla, CA). Conversion of the Uni-ZAPTM XR library into a plasmid library was accomplished according to the protocol provided by Stratagene. Upon conversion, cDNA inserts were contained in the plasmid vector pBluescript.
  • cDNA inserts from randomly picked bacterial colonies containing recombinant pBluescript plasmids were amplified via polymerase chain reaction using primers specific for vector sequences flanking the inserted com cDNA sequences.
  • Amplified insert DNAs were sequenced in dye-primer sequencing reactions to generate partial cDNA sequences (expressed sequence tags or "ESTs"; see Adams, M. D. et al., (1991) Science 252:1651). The resulting ESTs were analyzed using a Perkin Elmer Model 377 fluorescent sequencer.
  • cDNA libraries representing mRNAs from various other com, rice and wheat tissues were also prepared as describe above. The characteristics of these libraries are described below.
  • EXAMPLE 2 Identification and Characterization of cDNA Clones ESTs encoding glycogenin were identified by conducting a BLAST (Basic Local Alignment Search Tool; Altschul, S. F., et al., (1990) J. Mol. Biol. 275:403-410; see also www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/BLAST/) search for similarity to sequences contained in the GenBank database.
  • the cDNA sequences obtained in Example 1 was analyzed for similarity to all publicly available DNA sequences contained in the GenBank Database using the BLASTN algorithm provided by the National Center for Biotechnology Information (NCBI).
  • the sequence of the entire cDNA insert in clone cc3.mn0001.f7 was then determined and is depicted in SEQ ID NO:l.
  • the corresponding amino acid sequence of the com glycogenin protein is shown in SEQ ID NO:2.
  • the amino acid sequence was then analyzed for similarity to all publically available sequences using the BLASTP algorithm provided by the NCBI.
  • the BLASTP search using the sequence depicted in SEQ ID NO:2 revealed significant homology to human glycogenin (GenBank Accession No.
  • amino acid sequence of the instant com glycogenin shows approximately 19.2, 20.3, 43.1 and 16.8% sequence similarity (calculated using Clustal Method and the PAM250 Weight Table (DNASTAR Inc., Madison, WI)) to the human, C. elegans, Arabidopsis and rice sequences, respectively. Sequence alignments and BLAST scores and probabilities indicate that the instant nucleic acid fragment encodes a com glycogenin enzyme.
  • sequences represent additional, heretofore unrecognized com sequences encoding glycogenin.
  • the wheat clones described above represent the first wheat sequences encoding a glycogenin or water stress protein.
  • Clones rl0n.pk0027.fl 1 and rrl.pk0070.e9 appear to encode proteins that belong to the water stress protein gene family but have not been previously identified in rice. This conclusion is based on the fact that rl0n.pk0027.fl 1 and rrl.pk0070.e9 bear little or no homology to known rice water stress proteins genes as evidenced by their low pLog scores.
  • ctaln.pk0013.e6 and wreln.pk0137.d9 Two other clones, ctaln.pk0013.e6 and wreln.pk0137.d9, were identified as encoding glycogenin by their homology to cc3.mm0001.f7. When compared to cc3.mm0001.f7 by BLAST, they had pLog values of 50.69 for ctaln.pk0013.e6 and 41.30 for wreln.pk0107.hl0. An additional wheat clone, wreln.pk0107.hl0, was identified by BLAST homology to wreln.pk0137.d9.
  • wreln.pk0107.hl0 and wreln.pk0137.d9 were found have an overlapping region of nearly 100%) identity.
  • a contig is an assemblage of overlapping nucleic acid sequences to form one contiguous nucleotide sequence.
  • the individual sequences were assembled into a unique contiguous nucleotide sequence encoding a unique wheat glycogenin protein.
  • the SEQ ID NOs for each the above clones and the wheat glycogenin contig are shown in Table 3 :
  • a chimeric gene comprising a com, rice or wheat glycogenin or water stress protein cDNA in sense orientation with respect to the maize 27 kD zein promoter that is located 5' to the cDNA fragment, and the 10 kD zein 3' end that is located 3' to the cDNA fragment, can be constructed.
  • the cDNA fragment of this gene may be generated by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) of the cDNA clone comprising a com, rice or wheat glycogenin or water stress protein using appropriate oligonucleotide primers.
  • PCR polymerase chain reaction
  • Cloning sites can be incorporated into the oligonucleotides to provide proper orientation of the DNA fragment when inserted into the digested vector pML103 as described below.
  • Amplification is then performed in a 100 uL volume in a standard PCR mix consisting of 0.4 mM of each oligonucleotide and 0.3 pM of target DNA in 10 mM Tris-HCl, pH 8.3, 50 mM KC1, 1.5 mM MgCl 2 , 0.001% w/v gelatin, 200 mM dGTP, 200 mM dATP, 200 mM dTTP, 200 mM dCTP and 0.025 unit AmplitaqTM DNA polymerase.
  • Reactions are carried out in a Perkin-Elmer Cetus ThermocyclerTM for 30 cycles comprising 1 minute at 95°C, 2 minutes at 55°C and 3 minutes at 72°C, with a final 7 minute extension at 72°C after the last cycle.
  • the amplified DNA is then digested with restriction enzymes Ncol and Smal and fractionated on a 0.7% low melting point agarose gel in 40 mM Tris-acetate, pH 8.5, 1 mM EDTA.
  • the appropriate band can be excised from the gel, melted at 68°C and combined with a 4.9 kb Ncol-Smal fragment of the plasmid pML103.
  • Plasmid pML103 has been deposited under the terms of the Budapest Treaty at ATCC (American Type Culture Collection, 12301 Parklawn Drive, Rockville, MD 20852), and bears accession number ATCC 97366.
  • the DNA segment from ⁇ ML103 contains a 1.05 kb Sall-Ncol promoter fragment of the maize 27 kD zein gene and a 0.96 kb Smal-Sall fragment from the 3' end of the maize 10 kD zein gene in the vector pGem9Zf(+) (Promega).
  • Vector and insert DNA can be ligated at 15°C overnight, essentially as described (Maniatis). The ligated DNA may then be used to transform E.
  • Bacterial transformants can be screened by restriction enzyme digestion of plasmid DNA and limited nucleotide sequence analysis using the dideoxy chain termination method (SequenaseTM DNA Sequencing Kit; U. S. Biochemical).
  • the resulting plasmid construct would comprise a chimeric gene encoding, in the 5' to 3' direction, the maize 27 kD zein promoter, the com, rice or wheat glycogenin or water stress protein cDNA fragment, and the lO kD zein 3' region.
  • the chimeric gene described above can then be introduced into com cells by the following procedure.
  • Immature com embryos can be dissected from developing caryopses derived from crosses of the inbred com lines H99 and LH132. The embryos are isolated 10 to 11 days after pollination when they are 1.0 to 1.5 mm long. The embryos are then placed with the axis-side facing down and in contact with agarose-solidified N6 medium (Chu et al., (1975) Sci. Sin. Peking 18:659-668). The embryos are kept in the dark at 27°C.
  • Friable embryogenic callus consisting of undifferentiated masses of cells with somatic proembryoids and embryoids bome on suspensor structures proliferates from the scutellum of these immature embryos.
  • the embryogenic callus isolated from the primary explant can be cultured on N6 medium and sub-cultured on this medium every 2 to 3 weeks.
  • the plasmid, p35S/Ac (obtained from Dr. Peter Eckes, Hoechst Ag, Frankfurt, Germany) may be used in transformation experiments in order to provide for a selectable marker.
  • This plasmid contains the Pat gene (see European Patent Publication 0 242 236) which encodes phosphinothricin acetyl transferase (PAT).
  • PAT phosphinothricin acetyl transferase
  • the enzyme PAT confers resistance to herbicidal glutamine synthetase inhibitors such as phosphinothricin.
  • the at gene in p35S/Ac is under the control of the 35 S promoter from Cauliflower Mosaic Vims (Odell et al. (1985) Nature 313:810-812) and the 3' region of the nopaline synthase gene from the T-DNA of the Ti plasmid of Agrobacterium tumefaciens.
  • the particle bombardment method (Klein et al., (1987) Nature 327:70-73) may be used to transfer genes to the callus culture cells.
  • gold particles (1 ⁇ m in diameter) are coated with DNA using the following technique.
  • Ten ⁇ g of plasmid DNAs are added to 50 ⁇ L of a suspension of gold particles (60 mg per mL).
  • Calcium chloride 50 ⁇ L of a 2.5 M solution
  • spermidine free base (20 ⁇ L of a 1.0 M solution) are added to the particles.
  • the suspension is vortexed during the addition of these solutions. After 10 minutes, the tubes are briefly centrifuged (5 sec at 15,000 rpm) and the supematant removed.
  • the particles are resuspended in 200 ⁇ L of absolute ethanol, centrifuged again and the supematant removed. The ethanol rinse is performed again and the particles resuspended in a final volume of 30 ⁇ L of ethanol.
  • An aliquot (5 ⁇ L) of the DNA-coated gold particles can be placed in the center of a KaptonTM flying disc (Bio-Rad Labs).
  • the particles are then accelerated into the com tissue with a BiolisticTM PDS-1000/He (Bio-Rad Instruments, Hercules CA), using a helium pressure of 1000 psi, a gap distance of 0.5 cm and a flying distance of 1.0 cm.
  • the embryogenic tissue is placed on filter paper over agarose- solidified N6 medium.
  • the tissue is arranged as a thin lawn and covered a circular area of about 5 cm in diameter.
  • the petri dish containing the tissue can be placed in the chamber of the PDS-1000/He approximately 8 cm from the stopping screen.
  • the air in the chamber is then evacuated to a vacuum of 28 inches of Hg.
  • the macrocarrier is accelerated with a helium shock wave using a rupture membrane that bursts when the He pressure in the shock tube reaches 1000 psi.
  • Seven days after bombardment the tissue can be transferred to N6 medium that contains gluphosinate (2 mg per liter) and lacks casein or proline. The tissue continues to grow slowly on this medium.
  • tissue can be transferred to fresh N6 medium containing gluphosinate. After 6 weeks, areas of about 1 cm in diameter of actively growing callus can be identified on some of the plates containing the glufosinate- supplemented medium. These calli may continue to grow when sub-cultured on the selective medium.
  • Plants can be regenerated from the transgenic callus by first transferring clusters of tissue to N6 medium supplemented with 0.2 mg per liter of 2,4-D. After two weeks the tissue can be transferred to regeneration medium (Fromm et al, (1990) Bio/Technology 5:833-839).
  • Starch extracted from single seeds obtained from plants transformed with the chimeric gene can then be analyzed. Seeds can be steeped in a solution containing 1.0% lactic acid and 0.3% sodium metabisulfite, pH 3.8, held at 52°C for 22-24 h. Seeds are then drained, rinsed and homogenized individually in 8-9 mL of a solution of 100 mM NaCl. Five mL of toluene are added to each tube and vigorously shaken twice for 6 minutes using a paint mixer, and allowed to settle for 30 minutes. Two mL of 100 mM NaCl is sprayed onto the solution, allowed to settle for 30 minutes, and the protein-toluene layer is aspirated off. The toluene wash step is repeated.
  • Debranching solution can be prepared by diluting 50 ⁇ L of isoamylase (5x10 6 units/mL; Sigma) per mL of 50 mM NaOAc buffer, pH 4.5. Forty ⁇ L of debranching solution is added to each starch sample, and the samples are incubated in a water bath at 45°C for 3 h. The debranching reaction is stopped by heating samples to 110°C for 5 minutes. Debranched starch samples can then be lyophilized and redisolved in DMSO.
  • each debranched starch can then be analyzed by gel permeation chromotography (GPC).
  • GPC gel permeation chromotography
  • One hundred ⁇ L of each debranched starch is injected and chromatographed by passage through two GPC columns (Mixed Bed-C; Polymer Labs) arranged in series. Chromatography is performed at 100°C and samples are eluted with DMSO at a flow rate of 1.0 mL/min. Chromatographic samples are collected at 25 minute intervals.
  • a refractive index detector Waters
  • Chemstation Software version A.02.05; Hewlett-Packard
  • Retention times of collected samples may then be compared to retention times of pullulan standards (380K, 100K, 23.7K, 5.8K, 728 and 180 mw).
  • the proportion of the total starch is determined for twenty-four ranges of degree of polymerization (DP) spanning both the amylose and amylopectin portions of the chromatogram.
  • the percentage area in appropriate DP ranges is used to determine values for A & Bl, B2, B3 and B4+ chains of the amylopectin portion of the chromatogram.
  • the proportion of the total area above DP 150 is used to determine amylose content.
  • Amylopectin is typically described by its distribution of branch chains in the molecule.
  • the amylopectin molecule is comprised of alternating crystalline and amorphous regions.
  • the crystalline region is where many of the branch points ( -1,6 linkages) occur, while the amorphous region is an area of little to no branching and few branch chains.
  • the type of chain may be designated as A or B.
  • a chains are unbranched and span a single crystalline region.
  • Bl chains also span a single crystalline region but are branched.
  • B2, B3 and B4+ chains are branched and span 2, 3 and 4 or more crystalline regions, respectively (Hizukuri (1986) Carbohydrate Res. 147:342-347).
  • the relative area under the amylopectin portion of the chromatograms can be used to determine the area percentage of the A & Bl, B2, B3 and B4+ chains.
  • Starches derived from plants transformed with the chimeric gene can also be tested for functionality by techniques well known to those skilled in the art. For example, starch can be extracted from dry mature kernels from transformed plants. Fifteen g of kernels are weighed into a 50 mL Erlenmeyer flask and steeped in 50 mL of steep solution (same as above) for 18 h at 52°C. The kernels are drained and rinsed with water.
  • the kernels are then homogenized using a 20 mm Polytron probe (Kinematica GmbH; Kriens-Luzern, Switzerland) in 50 mL of cold 50 mM NaCl.
  • the homogenate is filtered through a 72 micron mesh screen.
  • the filtrate is brought up to a total volume of 400 mL with 50 mM NaCl and an equal volume of toluene is added.
  • the mixture is stirred with a magnetic stir bar for 1 h at sufficient speed to completely emulsify the two phases.
  • the emulsion is allowed to separate overnight in a covered beaker.
  • the upper toluene layer is aspirated from the beaker and discarded.
  • the starch slurry remaining in the bottom of the beaker is resuspended, poured into a 250 mL centrifuge bottle and centrifuged 15 minutes at 25,000 RCF.
  • the supematant is discarded and the starch is washed sequentially with water and acetone by shaking and centrifuging as above. After the acetone wash and centrifugation the acetone is decanted and the starch allowed to dry overnight in a fume hood at room temperature.
  • a Rapid Visco Analyzer (Newport Scientific; Sydney, Australia) with high sensitivity option and Thermocline software can then be used for pasting curve analysis. For each line, 1.50 g of starch is weighed into the sample cup and 25 mL of phosphate/citrate buffer (pH 6.50) containing 1% NaCl was added. Pasting curve analysis can be performed using the following temperature profile: idle temperature 50°C, hold at 50°C for 0.5 minutes, linear heating to 95°C for 2.5 minutes, linear cooling to 50°C over 4 minutes, hold at 50°C for four minutes. Results of the Rapid Visco Analyzer pasting analysis may demonstrate that the starch produced by lines transformed with the chimeric gene differ in its pasting properties both from normal dent starch. This result may demonstrate that the alteration of starch fine structure produced by altering expression of a com, rice or wheat glycogenin or water stress protein can create a starch of novel functionality.
  • the size of the individual starch granules is an important component of milling yield, as well as a contributing factor in starch functionality. Because decreases of increases in the amount of glycogenin primer may reduce or increase, respectively, the number of starch granules initiated, the resulting granules may be expected to be altered in size relative to normal maize starch granules.
  • Starch extracted from individual kemels can be subjected to Particle Size Analysis (PSA). 7.5 mg of starch is dispersed in dispersing solution comprising 0.2% Triton X-100 in water (v/v) and sonicated for 15 minutes.
  • the particle size of the dispersion is then measured using a PSA2010 Particle Size Analyzer (Galai Production Ltd.) equipped with a BCM-1 Cell Module. Particle size measurements are made according to the manufacturer's instructions. Changes in granule size may indicate altered starch functionality or millability.
  • EXAMPLE 5 Expression of Com Glycogenin in E. coli
  • the EST clone cc3.mn0001.f7 was placed into the pET24d T7 expression vector (Novagen) by PCR amplification using primers depicted in SEQ ID NO:7 and SEQ ID NO:8.
  • VentTM DNA polymerase New England Biolabs
  • the 5' primer has the sequence shown in SEQ ID NO:7 and consists of bases 26 to 46 of SEQ ID NO:l, additional bases 5'-catgccatgg-3' added to encode an Nco I site in the primer and four additional 5' bases to enhance the restriction enzyme recognintion of the encoded Nco I site.
  • the 3' primer has the sequence shown in SEQ ID NO:8 and consists of the reverse complement of bases 625 to 646 in pBluescript- SK (Stratagene).
  • the PCR reaction comprised for 25 cycles using the following protocol: 55°C annealing temperature and 1.5 minute extension time. A product of about 1400 base pairs was obtained and purified using WizardTM PCR purification kit (Perkin-Elmer).
  • PCR product Four micrograms of the PCR product was digested for 18 hours at 37°C with Ncol and Xhol.
  • the digested DNA was deproteinated by extraction with an equal volume of 1 :1 phenol hloroform, extraction of the upper layer of the phenol: chloroform separation with 1 volume of chloroform, and precipitation with ethanol.
  • One microgram of digested PCR product was then ligated with 200 ng of pET24d T7 expression vector (Novogen) that had also been previously digested with Ncol and Xhol.
  • the ligation mixture was used to transform electrocompetent BL21 (DE3) (Novagen) E. coli cells and transformants were selected by growth on plates containing 50 mg/L kanamycin.
  • kanamycin resistant clones Three kanamycin resistant clones were chosen for inoculation of overnight cultures. Two of the clones contained the PCR generated EST cc3.mn0001.f7 insert, while the third clone was an empty pET24d vector to act as a control.
  • the overnight cultures which were grown at 30°C in 2xYT media containing 50 mg/L kanamycin were diluted two fold with fresh media, allowed to re-grow for 1 h, then induced by adding isopropyl-thiogalactoside to lmM final concentration.
  • TTCGTCTTCG TTCGCCGTCA CAGCTGCAGG CAGCTCCCTC CCTCCCGCTG GTTTCCGATG 1239
  • MOLECULE TYPE other nucleic acid
  • GCAAAGCATC CGCCAGGCAG GATCCACCAG GGACCTGGTC ATCCTTGTGG ACGAGACCAT 240
  • AAGCGACCAC CACCGGAGAG GCTTGGAGGC GGCGGGGTGG AAGGTCAGAG TGATCCAGAG 300
  • CTCTTCTCTT GCAAGGACCT AGTGAAACGT GAAGGCAATG CTTGGATGTA CAAACCTGAC 60
  • CTCAACGCAA AAGCACGACT CTACACGGTA GACAGACGCA GAGAAGCATA TGCTACAATA 180
  • GCAGGATCAA CAAGGGACCT TGTTATTCTT GTTGATGACA CCATTAGTGA CCACCACCGC 300
  • GTCCTACTGC CTTCTGAGGA CAAGGCAGAA GGCTGGGCTG GAGTGGGACC GGAGGCAGGC 120
  • TTCCA 545 (2) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO: 18:
  • TGGTGGNGAT CAGGGATACT TGAACGAAAT ATTCACATGG TGGCATCGGA TTCCAAANCA 240
  • CTATGTGCTT CACTACCTGG GGCCTGAACC ATGGCTGTGC TTCAAGGGAC TATGACTGCA 360

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Abstract

L'invention concerne des fragments d'acide nucléique isolés codant la totalité ou une partie importante d'une glycogénine végétale ou d'une protéine induite par le stress hydrique. L'invention concerne également la construction de gènes chimères codant la totalité ou une partie d'une glycogénine végétale ou d'une protéine induite par le stress hydrique, selon une orientation sens ou antisens, l'expression d'un tel gène chimère ayant pour résultat la production à des taux modifiés d'une glycogénine végétale ou d'une protéine induite par le stress hydrique, dans une cellule hôte transformée.
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AU7564898A (en) 1998-11-27
US6255114B1 (en) 2001-07-03

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